Frankie Dettori delays retirement date to seek first win in historic race
Frankie Dettori is to ride on beyond the Breeders’ Cup after agreeing to ride at the Melbourne Cup meeting.
Superstar jockey Dettori announced last year that 2023 would be his last as a professional jockey.
He has repeatedly stated that Qipco British Champions Day on October 23 at Ascot would be his last day riding in Britain. After that he will ride at the Breeders’ Cup meeting in Santa Anita, California on November 3-4.
Organisers of other international racing events from Australia, Japan and Hong Kong have also been pursuing Dettori to ride at their big meetings before the end of the year.
It has now been confirmed that he will head to Australia after the Breeders’ Cup to ride at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in Flemington, Melbourne where the signature race, the Melbourne Cup takes place on November 7.
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Racing Victoria announced that Dettori will compete at Flemington on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Kennedy Oaks Day [Nov 9] and TAB Champions Stakes Day [Nov 11]..
Dettori rode at Royal Ascot for the final time on Saturday where he partnered four winners, including the meeting’s oldest race, the Gold Cup, taking his total score to 81.
Frankie Dettori arrives at Royal Ascot in the Royal carriage (PA)In a 35 year career, the 52-year-old has ridden more than 250 Group 1 winners across the globe including nine Ascot Gold Cups and five Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes. He has never won the Melbourne Cup.
“I have achieved all there is to achieve in horse racing and have had a fantastic career, but the Lexus Melbourne Cup has always been one race that I would love to win,” Dettori said.
“I am looking forward to returning to Melbourne to ride at the carnival for one final time and hopefully I can finish my career with a Melbourne Cup win.”
Frankie Dettori jumps for joy after 80th Royal Ascot winner (Getty Images)Victoria Racing Club chief executive officer Steve Rosich said the club was ecstatic to be welcoming Dettori to Flemington.
“Frankie Dettori is one of the best jockeys and personalities the sport has ever seen and the VRC look forward to giving him a fitting farewell at Flemington at the Melbourne Cup Carnival,” he said.
Dettori had his first ride in the Melbourne Cup in 1993 aboard Drum Taps, the same year that international raider Vintage Crop made history becoming the first international horse to win the Cup.
He has since had 17 attempts to try and win the feature and has come close on three occasions – Central Park (2nd in 1999), Max Dynamite (2nd in 2015) and Master of Reality (2nd in 2019 but relegated to 4th).
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